Greece's plea to India over Kashmir

President Karolos Papoulias says the continuation of "the long-pending dispute" could hit region's global security.

Greece, a member of the European Union, has urged both India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue.

Speaking at a banquet hosted in honour of visiting President APJ Abdul Kalam, Greek President Karolos Papoulias said the continuation of "the long-pending dispute" could negatively affect the region's global security.

"Greece for its part, supports a fair and peaceful resolution of differences between India and Pakistan as regards Kashmir," said Mr Papoulias.

He said his country appreciated that India had always supported it in its efforts for regional peace and has been supportive of the Greek stand on the Cyprus case, which he described as classical case of violation of the basic principles of international law and the UN Charter.

He said Greece, which was a gateway to Europe and Balkans, firmly believed in the effectiveness of economic cooperation and dialogue between peoples and cultures.

Pointing out that there had been significant progress in the economic relations between India and Greece, he expressed hope that their commercial transactions would cross one billion Euroes by 2010.

Recognising India's "specific weight in global developments", he said India played a stabilising role in the world, and itscontribution in the decolonisation process, "which is one of the most important 20th century events," was of fundamental importance."

Today there was a boom in the Indian economy and it had become a leading player in software production and management, he said.

Recalling the centuries-old relations between the "two great civilisations", he said "these bonds constitute the sound basis on which the dynamic growth of our cooperation blossoms."